Authorities say a huge amount of illegal narcotics has been discovered in British waters.
Hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, understood to have come from South America, are reported to have been found in the sea by fishermen off the coast near St Aldhelm’s Point and Durdle Door on October 2.
A further batch of the drug was also found on a beach by litter pickers on the coast of the Isle of Wight earlier today.
The National Crime Agency say police are now trying to contact a member of the second group to have found the drugs.
Senior investigating officer Tracey Lake said: ‘We believe this a significant amount of class A drugs which would have originated in South America.
‘A loss of a consignment of this size would represent a significant hit to the criminal networks involved.’
Rachel Farrell, Deputy Chief Constable with Dorset Police, added: ‘Officers from our marine team, supported by colleagues from across the force and HM Coastguard have been working tirelessly with the NCA and Border Force to recover these suspect packages.
‘Searches remain ongoing and I would ask anyone who finds a holdall or similar package in suspect circumstances to please not touch the item, but contact Dorset Police immediately.’
Authorities say the member of the litter-picking crew they wish to speak with is of slim build, around 5ft 6ins tall with short grey hair and a birthmark on the right-hand corner of his mouth.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Murray with Hampshire Police said: ‘We have been supporting the ongoing investigation with searches across the west Wight today, after a number of packages were discovered this morning by a group who were out litter-picking.
‘This work is ongoing, and you will continue to see police throughout the evening and into tomorrow, and we would ask anyone who finds any suspicious bags or packages on the coastline of Hampshire and the island to get in touch with us immediately.
‘There is a member of the litter picking group, a man in his 60s, who we want to make contact with, as we continue to speak with everyone in the vicinity this morning, and we would ask him to get in touch with us.’
The police forces involved in the ongoing investigation further asked anyone else who happens to locate any suspicious packages to get in touch with their local authority.
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